luni, martie 31, 2008
Din El, prin El si pentru El
Romani 11:36 Din El, prin El, şi pentru El sunt toate lucrurile. A Lui să fie slava în veci! Amin
Spala-mi Doamne gândul
SPALA-MI DOAMNE GANDUL
Spala-mi Doamne gândul,
Spala-mi Doamne viata,
Vreau sa fiu curat si placut în fata Ta,
Numai Tu uzi zorii
Si împrastii ceata,
Numai Tu esti scutul si rasplata mea.
Spala-mi Doamne gândul,
Spala-mi Doamne viata
Si ma fa asemeni cu Tine mereu.
Numai Tu uzi zorii
Si împrastii ceata,
Numai Tu esti scutul sufletului meu.
Spala-mi Doamne gândul,
Spala-mi Doamne viata,
Ia din mintea mea orice gând al celui rau.
Vreau sa fiu ca Tine, sa-Ti ascult povata
Vreau sa pot privi mereu în ochii Tai.
Spala-mi Doamne gândul,
Spala-mi Doamne viata,
Cand troiene reci fac sa-mi para noaptea grea,
Adu primavara si topeste gheata
Vreau sa merg spre cer
Doar pe ea pe calea Ta.
duminică, martie 30, 2008
Nu-i chemare mai mare
Jos la picioarele-Ti
Jos, la picioarele-Ti
Stau adanc plecat
În prezenta Ta sunt îngenunchiat
Sunt îngenunchiat.
Nu-i chemare mai mare
Nu-i o alta onoare
Decât sa îngenunchiez la tronul Tau.
Coplesit de uimire, scaldat în iubire
Eu traiesc doar pentru a Te lauda.
Rejoice and be glad in Him !
Traducerea Cornilescu:
" Toţi cei ce Te caută,
să se veselească şi
să se bucure în Tine!
Cei ce iubesc mântuirea Ta,
să zică neîncetat:
"Prea mărit să fie Dumnezeu! "
Traducere Ortodoxa:
" Să se bucure şi
să se veselească de Tine
toţi cei ce Te caută pe Tine,
Dumnezeule,
şi să zică pururea
cei ce iubesc
mântuirea Ta:
"Slăvit să fie Domnul!" "
Traducere NIV:
" But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your
salvation always say,
"Let God be exalted!" "
Traducere NASB:
" Let all who seek You
rejoice and be glad in You;
And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
"Let God be magnified." "
TraducereTM:
" Let those on the hunt for you
sing and celebrate.
Let all who love your saving way
say over and over,
"God is mighty!" "
Traducere AB:
" May all those who seek,
inquire of and for You,
and require You [as their vital need]
rejoice and be glad in You;
and may those who love
Your salvation say continually,
Let God be magnified! "
Traducere NLT:
" But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout,
“God is great!” " "
What Jesus Did! - Bottom Line!
- Matthew 7:28-29 (ERV)
THOUGHT:
That's the point. Jesus is not like the teachers of the Law. They're expertise came from knowing the many different interpretations of the Jewish Law over the years. Jesus comes and teaches us the heart of God's will in the Sermon on the Mount. It's the heart of the matter taught by one with all authority. This is not only truth, but it is the livable truth of God. You see, Jesus is more than Teacher, he is Master and Lord. His word is authoritative! So let's live it
PRAYER:
Related Scriptures:
But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home."- Matt. 9:6
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matt. 28:18-20
9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. - Matt. 8:9-10
What Jesus Did! - Do It!
But the person that hears the things I teach and does not obey those things is like a foolish man. The foolish man built his house on sand. It rained hard, the water rose, and the winds blew and hit that house. And the house fell with a loud noise."
- Matthew 7:24-27 (ERV)
THOUGHT:
While Nike® may have the trademark on the phrase "Just Do It!" Jesus certainly said it enough to claim original authorship of the concept. He is adamant: his teaching is not for philosophical enlightenment, nor for intellectual musings, nor just for Bible class discussions. The goal of his teaching is to help people understand what the will of God is and then do it.
PRAYER:
Father, help me today put into my daily routine one aspect of Christian growth that was not there yesterday. I want to do your will and honor you for the great love you have for me and for all that you have already done for me. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures:
After Jesus said these things, many of his followers left him. They stopped following Jesus. Jesus asked the twelve apostles, "Do you want to leave too?" Simon Peter answered Jesus, "Lord, where would we go? You have the things that give life forever. - John 6:66-68
I am your Lord and Teacher. But I washed your feet {like a servant}. So you also should wash each other's feet. I did this as an example for you. So you should do {for each other} like I did for you. I tell you the truth.
A servant is not greater than his master. The person that is sent to do something is not greater than the one that sent him. If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them. - John 13:14-17
Do what God's teaching says; don't just listen and do nothing. Why? Because when you only sit and listen, you are fooling yourselves. - James 1:22
sâmbătă, martie 29, 2008
The future you hope for
Ieremia 29:11
Traducerea Cornilescu:
" Căci Eu ştiu gândurile,
pe care le am
cu privire la voi,
zice Domnul,
gânduri de pace
şi nu de nenorocire,
ca să vă dau un viitor şi o nădejde. "
Traducere Ortodoxa:
" Pentru că
numai Eu ştiu gândul ce-l am pentru voi,
zice Domnul,
gând bun, nu rău,
ca să vă dau viitorul şi nădejdea. "
Traducere NIV:
" For I know the plans I have for you,"
declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and
not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future."
Traducere NASB:
" 'For I know the plans that I have for you,'
declares the LORD,
'plans for welfare and not for calamity
to give you a future and a hope "
TraducereTM:
" I know what I'm doing.
I have it all planned out
—plans to take care of you,
not abandon you,
plans to give you the future you hope for. "
Traducere AB:
" For I know the thoughts
and plans that I have for you,
says the Lord,
thoughts and plans for welfare
and peace and not for evil,
to give you hope in your final outcome."
Traducere NLT:
" For I know the plans I have for you,”
says the Lord.
“They are plans for good
and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope. "
What Jesus Did! - Away from Me!
On the last day many people will say to me, 'You are our Lord! We spoke for you. And for you we forced out demons and did many miracles. ' Then I will tell those people clearly, 'Go away from me, you people that do wrong. I never knew you.'
- Matthew 7:21-23 (ERV)
THOUGHT:
Substituting proclamations of faith for a life of faith won't cut it. Substituting mighty acts in Jesus' name for living a life of righteousness won't cut it either. Deception, sham, falsehood, manipulation, and hype are works of the Evil One and will be handled as such by the conquering Savior.
PRAYER:
I want to know you by knowing your character, service, and righteousness through living them in my life. In the name of your holy Son, I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures:
You are hypocrites ! Isaiah was right when he spoke about you. Isaiah said: 'These people say they honor me, but they don't really make me an important part of their lives. Their worship of me is for nothing. The things they teach are only rules that people have made.'" - Matthew 15:7-9
"It will be bad for you teachers of the law and Pharisees. You are hypocrites. You are like tombs that are painted white.
The outside of those tombs looks fine. But inside, the tombs are full of the bones of dead people. And all kinds of unclean things are inside there. It is the same with you. People look at you and think that you are good. But on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and evil. - Matthew 23:27-28
I may speak in different languages of men or even angels. But if I don't have love, then I am only a noisy bell or a ringing cymbal. I may have the gift of prophecy ;
I may understand all the secret things {of God} and know everything; and I may have faith so great that I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I don't have love, then I am nothing.
I may give everything I have to feed people. And I may even give my body {as an offering} to be burned. But I gain nothing by doing these things if I don't have love. - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
vineri, martie 28, 2008
What Jesus Did! - Fruit Checking
"Be careful of false prophets. They come to you and look {gentle} like sheep. But they are really dangerous {like} wolves. You will know these people because of the things they do. Good things don't come from bad people, the same as grapes don't come from thorn bushes.
And figs don't come from thorny weeds. In the same way, every good tree makes good fruit. And bad trees make bad fruit. A good tree cannot make bad fruit. And a bad tree cannot make good fruit. Every tree that does not make good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. You will know these false people by the fruit they make (things they do). Matthew 7:15-20 (ERV)
THOUGHT: Disciples are not to be judgmental people. This does not mean, however, that they are to be undiscerning. There is a principle designed into the fabric of our universe: the fruit produced comes from the seed planted. If we want to know about the character of people, look at the consistent fruit of their lives!
Jesus is worried about a very present danger of false teachers deceiving his disciples and leading them to disaster. He gives one simple, powerful and accurate test to use to detect false teachers: check their fruit! What kind of character is present in their lives? If it is not godly character, then they're not to be trusted. Look at the fruit of their life. Watch what they do.
PRAYER: Tender Shepherd, I know it hurts you to see us led astray by false shepherds. I ask you, O Lord my true Shepherd, please bear your fruit in me. In addition, I pray that you protect your flock from the wolves. Give me wisdom and insight to not follow a false shepherd or to be led astray by false teachers. I want to follow only you! In the name of the Lamb who was slain, I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures:
You must do the things that show that you have really changed your hearts and lives. - Matthew 3:8
But the Spirit gives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, - Galatians 5:22
"I am the vine and you are the branches. If a person continues in me and I continue in that person, then that person will make much fruit. But without me that person can do nothing. If a person does not continue in me, then he is like a branch that is thrown away. That branch dies. People pick up dead branches, throw them into the fire, and burn them.
"Continue in me and follow my teachings. If you do this, then you can ask for anything you want, and it will be given to you. You should make much fruit and show that you are my followers. This brings glory to my Father. - John 15:5-8
He carries you day by day!
Psalmul 68:19
Traducerea Cornilescu:
" Binecuvântat să fie Domnul,
care zilnic ne poartă povara,
Dumnezeu, mîntuirea noastră. -(Oprire). "
Traducere Ortodoxa:
" Domnul Dumnezeu este binecuvântat,
binecuvântat este Dumnezeu zi de zi;
să sporească între noi,
Dumnezeul mântuirii noastre. "
Traducere NIV:
" Praise be to the Lord,
to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens. Selah"
Traducere NASB:
" Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation. Selah. "
TraducereTM:
" Blessed be the Lord —
day after day he carries us along.
He's our Savior, our God, oh yes!
He's God-for-us, he's God-who-saves-us. "
Traducere AB:
" Blessed be the Lord,
Who bears our burdens
and carries us day by day,
even the God Who is our salvation!
Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!"
Traducere NLT:
" Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
For each day he carries us in his arms.
Interlude "
joi, martie 27, 2008
All Heaven Declare
In veci de veci esti Tu...
Divinul Miel pe tron...
Genunchii imi aplec
Si Tie ma inchin...
What Jesus Did! - The Less Taken Way
- Matthew 7:13-14 (ERV)
THOUGHT:
PRAYER:
Related Scriptures:
Don't be fooled: "Bad friends will ruin good habits." - 1 Corinthians 15:33
Now do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No! God is the One I am trying to please. Am I trying to please people? If I wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Jesus Christ. - Galatians 1:10
"Not every person that says that I am his Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. The only people that will enter the kingdom of heaven are those people that do the things that my Father in heaven wants. On the last day many people will say to me, 'You are our Lord! We spoke for you. And for you we forced out demons and did many miracles. ' Then I will tell those people clearly, 'Go away from me, you people that do wrong. I never knew you.' - Matthew 7:21-23
miercuri, martie 26, 2008
Chris Tomlin - Famous One
The famous one, famous one
Great is Your name in all the earth
The heavens declare
You're glorious, glorious
Great is Your fame beyond the earth
For all You've done and yet to do
With every breath I'm praising You
Desire of the nations and every heart
You alone are God
You alone are God
The morning star is shining through
And every eye is watching You
Revealed by nature and miracles
You are beautiful
You are beautiful
Unchanging (Raise Up Holy Hands) by Chris Tomlin
Great is Your faithfulness
Great is Your faithfulness
You never change
You never fail, O God
True are Your promises
True are Your promises
You never change
You never fail, O God
So we raise up holy hands
To praise the Holy One
Who was and is and is to come
Wide is Your love and grace
Wide is Your love and grace
You never change
You never fail, O God
You were, You are
You will always be
What Jesus Did! - The Golden Life
- Matthew 7:12 (ERV)
THOUGHT: The Golden Rule! That's what it's called, but Jesus isn't as concerned that we know the "rule" as much as he is that we live the "golden life." In many ways, this concept of doing for others what we would want done for us summarizes Jesus' teaching to his disciples about how to live for others. It also captures the spirit of the Old Testament Law and the teaching of the prophets. In other words, living to bless others is God's will for us in all of our relationships. We are not here to live for ourselves, but to bless others in the name of Jesus. This kind of life is transformational. God can use it in ways we would never anticipate to touch the lives of others.
PRAYER: Almighty and enabling God, help me focus less on my needs and my desires. Instead, dear Father, please help me hear the heart cry of those around me and then use me to serve them in your name and do for them what I would want done for me. Through the precious name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures:
The Pharisee said, "Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?" Jesus answered, "'You must love the Lord your God. You must love him with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: 'You must love other people the same as you love yourself.' - Matthew 22:36-39
Be willing to serve each other. Do this because you respect Christ. - Ephesians 5:21
Forget about the wrong things people do {to you}. Don't try to get even. Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord! - Leviticus 19:18
marți, martie 25, 2008
He Knows My Name by Maranatha Singers
I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in His hands
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He see each tear that falls
And hears me when I call
I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go
He knows my name
He formed my heart
He knows my every thought
He calls me His own
He see each tear that falls
He hears me when I call
He'll never leave me
What Jesus Did! - Our Father's Graciousness
- Matthew 7:9-11 (ERV)
THOUGHT: If our attitude in prayer is one of persistence, God's attitude is one of grace. He longs and loves to bless us. After all, he is our perfect and wise Heavenly Father. If we give our children what is best for them because we love them, our heavenly Father will do so to a completely perfect extent. We should not only be persistent in prayer, we should also be confident; the one who hears our prayers is our loving Father!
PRAYER:
Related Scriptures:
The true children of God are those people that let God's Spirit lead them. The Spirit that we received is not a spirit that makes us slaves again and causes us to fear. The Spirit that we have makes us God's chosen children.
Everything good comes from God. And every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky (sun, moon, stars). But God never changes {like those lights}. He is always the same. - James 1:17
Always be happy in the Lord. I will say it again. Be happy. Let all people see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. And God's peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. That peace which God gives is so great that we cannot understand it. - Philippians 4:4-7
Walk the talk
Walk the talk: o provocare zilnica.
Puteti urmari filmuletzul pe linkul:
http://doyouwalkthetalk.com/
Pentru mai multe astfel de "inspirational movies" puteti accesa linkul: http://www.simpletruths.com/movies/index.asp
luni, martie 24, 2008
Cine esti Tu?
" Sa va fie filmul acesta balsam pentru inima, intaritura pentru credinta, resursa pentru a iubi. Si la aceasta din urma virtute suntem mai cu seama chemati cu totii. La a iubi. La a-L iubi pe El, pe Domnul Isus, la a-L iubi pe semenul nostru si acestea nu cu ale noastre sfortari, ci adapandu-ne din iubirea Lui, prin iubirea Lui si pentru a Sa vesnica iubire de oameni! Slavit sa fie Domnul! "
Acest articol l-am regasit pe blogul lui Andrei Patrinca. Nici nu stiam ca are blog. Dar cred ca este o binecuvantare pentru toti. Pentru cei care doresc sa afle, linkul lui este: http://andrews-inspirations.blogspot.com/.
What Jesus Did! - Keep Praying!
- Matthew 7:7-8 (ERV)
7 Cereţi, şi vi se va da; căutaţi şi veţi găsi; bateţi, şi vi se va deschide.
8 Căci ori şi cine cere, capătă; cine caută, găseşte; şi celui ce bate, i se deschide.
THOUGHT:
Ask, look, knock. These actions sound so harmless and so easy. But behind these words is the intent of Jesus: "Be persistent! Keep asking! Continue looking! Don't quit knocking!" This is not a cookbook prescription, but the target attitude we should have in our prayers and our lives.
PRAYER:
Related Scriptures:
But if any of you needs wisdom, then you should ask God for it. God is generous. He enjoys giving to all people. So God will give you wisdom. But when you ask God, you must believe.
Don't doubt God. The person who doubts is like a wave in the sea. The wind blows the wave up and down. The person who doubts is like that wave. The person who doubts is thinking two different things at the same time. He cannot decide about anything he does. A person like that should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord. - James 1:5-8
5 Dacă vreunuia dintre voi îi lipseşte înţelepciunea, s'o ceară dela Dumnezeu, care dă tuturor cu mînă largă şi fără mustrare, şi ea îi va fi dată.
6 Dar s'o ceară cu credinţă, fără să se îndoiască deloc: pentrucă cine se îndoieşte, seamănă cu valul mării, turburat şi împins de vînt încoace şi încolo.
7 Un astfel de om să nu se aştepte să primească ceva dela Domnul,
8 căci este un om nehotărît şi nestatornic în toate căile sale.
I tell you the truth. The person that believes in me will do the same things I have done. Yes! He will do even greater things than I have done. Why? Because I am going to the Father. And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you. Then the Father's glory will be shown through the Son. - John 14:12-13
12 Adevărat, adevărat, vă spun, că cine crede în Mine, va face şi el lucrările pe cari le fac Eu; ba încă va face altele şi mai mari decît acestea; pentrucă Eu mă duc la Tatăl:
13 şi ori ce veţi cere în Numele Meu, voi face, pentruca Tatăl să fie proslăvit în Fiul.
Then Jesus taught the followers that they should always pray and never lose hope. Jesus used this story to teach them: "Once there was a judge in a town. He did not care about God. The judge also did not care what people thought about him. In that same town there was a woman. Her husband was dead. The woman came many times to this judge and said, 'There is a man that is doing bad things to me. Give me my rights!' But the judge did not want to help the woman.
After a long time, the judge thought to himself, 'I don't care about God. And I don't care about what people think. But this woman is bothering me. If I give her what she wants, then she will leave me alone. But if I don't give her what she wants, she will bother me until I am sick!'"
The Lord (Jesus) said, "Listen! {There is meaning} in what the bad judge said. God's people shout to him night and day. God will always give his people what is right. God will not be slow to answer his people. I tell you, God will help his people quickly! But when the Son of Man comes again, will he find people on earth who believe in him?" - Luke 18:1-8
1 Isus le -a spus o pildă, ca să le arate că trebuie să se roage necurmat, şi să nu se lase.
2 El le -a zis: ,,Într'o cetate era un judecător, care de Dumnezeu nu se temea şi de oameni nu se ruşina.
3 În cetatea aceea era şi o văduvă, care venea des la el, şi -i zicea: ,Fă-mi dreptate în cearta cu pîrîşul meu.`
4 Multă vreme n'a voit să -i facă dreptate. Dar în urmă, şi -a zis: ,Măcar că de Dumnezeu nu mă tem şi de oameni nu mă ruşinez,
5 totuş, pentru că văduva aceasta mă tot necăjeşte, îi voi face dreptate, ca să nu tot vină să-mi bată capul.`
6 Domnul a adăogat: ,Auziţi ce zice judecătorul nedrept?
7 Şi Dumnezeu nu va face dreptate aleşilor Lui, cari strigă zi şi noapte către El, măcar că zăboveşte faţă de ei?
8 Vă spun că le va face dreptate în curînd. Dar cînd va veni Fiul omului, va găsi El credinţă pe pămînt?``
duminică, martie 23, 2008
De ce ne cere Dumnezeu sa asteptam?
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary
Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles
" Asteptarea este cea mai grea provocare a sperantei. " Lewis Smedes
Unele tipuri de asteptare - pe autostrada sau in cabinetele medicilor - sunt triviale in peisajul de zi cu zi. Dar exista unele tipuri de asteptare mai serioase si in acelasi timp mai dificile:
* Asteptarea unei persoane necasatorite, care spera ca Dumnezeu i-a pregatit ceva, dar care incepe sa simta disperarea.
* Asteptarea unui cuplu fara copii , care isi doresc din toata inima o familie.
* Asteptarea cuiva care isi doreste un serviciu care sa-i placa si asa fie semnificativ, dar pare sa nu-l gaseasca.
* Asteptarea unei persoane profund deprimate, care tanjeste dupa o dimieata in care se va trezi dornica de viata.
Fiecare dintre noi, la rascrucile vietii , va trebui sa invatam sa asteptam.
Lewis Smedes scrie:
* Asteptarea este destinul nostru ca si creaturi care nu putem prin noi insine sa obtinem ceea ce dorim.
* Asteptam in intuneric o flacara pe care nu o putem aprinde.
* Asteptam cu frica un final fericit pe care nu putem sa-l scriem.
* Asteptam un "inca nu" , care pare ca se transforma in "niciodata".
* Asteptarea este cea mai grea provocare a sperantei.
Asteptarea s-ar putea sa fie cel mai greu lucru pe care suntem chemati sa-l facem. Asa ca este de-a dreptul frustrant cand deschidem Biblia si vedem ca Insusi Dumnezeu, care este atotputernic si atotcunoscator, le spune mereu oamenilor : "Asteptati."
Dumnezeu vine la Avraam, cand acesta avea 75 de ani, si ii spune ca va avea copii, ca va fi tatal unei mari natiuni. Cat a durat pana cand promisiunea a fost implinita? 24 de ani. Avraam a trebuit sa astepte.
Dumnezeu le-a spus israelitilor ca vor fi scosi din robia egipteana si vor deveni o natiune de sine statatoare. Dar poporul a trebuit sa astepte 400 de ani.
Dumnezeu i-a spus lui Moise ca va conduce poporul in Tara Promisa. Dar Moise a trebuit sa astepte 40 de ani in pustie.
In Biblie, asteptarea este atat de strans impletita cu credinta, incat uneori aceste doua concepte se substituie unul celuilat. Marea promisiune a Vechiului Testament era ca Mesia urma sa vina. Dar Israel trebuia sa astepte - generatie dupa generatie, secol dupa secol. Si cand Mesia Cel mult asteptat a venit in sfarsit, El a fost recunoscut doar de cei care aveau privirea atintita spre venirea Lui - cei ca Simeon. [...]
Numai in Vechiul Testament, se porunceste "Asteptati!" de 43 de ori.
Ultimele cuvinte ale Bibliei vorbesc despre asteptare : "Cel ce adevereste aceste lucruri, zice: "DA, Eu vin curand. "" Pare neverosimil, dar in lumina vesniciei, El vine curand. Tineti aproape.
"Amin! Vino, Doamne Isuse!" Foarte bine, vom tine aproape, Dar vino! Te asteptam!
De ce? De ce ne cere Dumnezeu sa asteptam? Daca este atotputernic, de ce nu ne vine in ajutor, de ce nu ne da toate raspunsurile si de ce nu vine acum?
Cel putin partial, pentru a-l parafraza pe Ben Patterson, ceea ce Dumnezeu lucreaza in noi in timp ce asteptam este la fel de important ca si ceea ce de fapt asteptam .
Capacitatea de a astepta este un test al maturitatii. Psihologii vorbesc despre acest lucru ca fiind capacitatea de a suporta recompensa amanta. M. Scott Peck scrie: "Amanarea recompensei este un proces al programarii durerii si placerii in viata in asa fel incat sa maresti placerea prin confruntarea si experimentarea durerii mai intai, astfel incat sa termini cu ea. Acesta este singurul mod decent de a trai. "
Daniel Goleman a scris o carte foarte influenta in care sustine ca eficienta in viata este bazata nu atat de mult pe inteligenta cognitiva, cat pe ceea ce ar putea fi numita "inteligenta emotionala". Din aceasta cauza oameni cu coeficient de inteligenta ridicat ajung sa aiba casnicii destramate sau locuri de munca frustrante. In miezul inteligentei emotionale se afla capacitatea de a amana recompensa si da a nu trai la voia impulsului de moment .
[...] Copii dezvolta tot felul de strategii pentru a le fi mai usor sa astepte: - canta, isi spun povesti, se joaca cu degetele. [...]
Incapacitatea de a controla impulsurile de moment, refuzul de a trai in asteptare rabdatoare si incredere, locuieste foarte aproape de miezul decaderii umane. [...]
Pavel spune ca in timp ce asteptam ca Dumnezeu sa puna ordine in toate lucrurile, vom suferi. Suferinta produce rezistenta, rezistenta, caracter; si caracterul, speranta. Dumnezeu poate produce aceste calitati in noi in timp ce asteptam. Asteptarea nu este doar ceva ce trebuie sa facem in timp ce primim ceea ce dorim. Este o parte a procesului de a deveni ceea ce vrea Dumnezeu sa fim. [...]
Asteptarea inseamna sa incepi sa inveti principiile biblice ale unei bune ispravnicii. Inseamna sa incepi sa cultivi obiceiuri financiare sanatoase cum ar fi intocmirea unui buget, plata zeciuielii si amanarea cumpararii unor lucruri pana in momentul in care ai banii cu care sa le platesti.
* Asteptarea biblica nu este deloc o asteptare pasiva; nu este o modalitate de a evada din realitatea neplacuta.
* Asteptarea dupa Dumnezeu inseamna o atasare de Dumnezeu plina de incredere, disciplinata, activa si uneori dureroasa.
* Asteptarea dupa Dumnezeu este decizia zilnica, continua, de a spune: "Ma voi increde in Tine si Te voi asculta. Chiar si atunci cand circumstantele vietii nu sunt asa cum mi-as fi dorit si probabil nu vor fi niciodata, imi pun toata increderea in Tine. Nu am alt plan de rezerva. "
Ce inseamna deci sa sti sa astepti?
Incredere rabdatoare: Asteptarea dupa Dumnezeu necesita o incredere plina de rabdare.
Voi putea eu sa cred ca Dumnezeu are motive intemeiate pentru a-mi porunci sa astept? Imi voi aminti ca lucrurile arata diferit pentru Dumnezeu, pentru ca El vede din perspectiva vesniciei?
[...] Se spune ca un ecomomist a citi pasajul : "pentru Domnul, o zi este ca o mie de ani, si o mie de ani sunt ca o zi. " si a fost foarte entuziasmat.
"Doamne, este adevarat ca pentru Tine o mie de ani sunt ca un minut? "
"Da."
"Atunci un milion de dolari este pentru Tine cat un cent. "
"Da."
"Doamne, imi dai si mie unul din centii Tai?"
"Da, sigur. Asteapta aici UN MINUT. " ( :)) )
* Mult prea adesea vrem resursele lui Dumnezeu, dar atunci cand vrem noi, nu cand vrea El.
* Vrem centul, dar nu vrem minutul.
* Uitam ca lucrarea pe care o face El in noi in timp ce asteptam este la fel de importanta ca ceea ce credem noi ca asteptam.
* Asteptarea inseamna ca suntem convinsi ca Dumnezeu stie ce face.
Aceasta ar putea insemna incredere rabdatoare- o incredere care este dispusa sa astepte din nou si din nou, zi dupa zi.
~ Probabil esti necasatorit. Noi, americanii, traim intr-o societate in care sa fi casatorit este normal si sa fi necasatorit nu este normal. Asa ca simti presiunea unei paradigme.
~ Probabil simti o dorinta dupa intimitate.
~ Probabil simti o singuratate pe care doar Dumnezeu o poate vindeca, din care nu te poate scoate nici o alta fiinta umana.
ASTEPTAREA ESTE GREA DE TOT.
~ Probabil esti tentat sa gandesti: "Am asteptat destul. M-am saturat sa tot astept. Voi cauta orice satisfactie in viata si imi voi face griji despre consecinte mai tarziu. "
ESTI DISPUS SA ASTEPTI DUPA DUMNEZEU?
Vei spune curajos: "Bine , Doamne. Nu ma voi lasa prins intr-o relatie care stiu ca Te-ar dezonora si ar prejudicia sufletele celor implicati. Voi cauta sa-mi construiesc viat cat de bine pot, fara sa stiu ce aduce ziua de maine. Chiar daca uneori simt ca nimeni nu intelege cat de dureroasa este asteptarea, aleg sa ma incred in Tine. Voi astepta!"
* Asteptarea dupa Dumnezeu necesita umilinta increzatoare.
* Rugaciunea ne permite sa asteptam fara a ne ingrijora.
Recent, intr-una din nopti, nu puteam sa adorm. Eram framantat de tot felul de ganduri care incep cu "Daca...?" Daca acest lucru nu se schimba? Daca nu voi primi ceea ce doresc cu disperare?
Exista o samanta de adevar in toate acestea - se pot intampla lucruri rele - dar acestea nu conduc la viata.
Nu la mult timp dupa aceea, citeam relatarea depre Isus cu ucenicii in barca, in mijlocul furtunii. Ucenicii erau disperati deoarece - va aduceti aminte? - Isus dormea.
Atunci mi-am dat seama : Exista o experienta pe care Isus n-a avut-o niciodata. A experimentat aproape orice emotie umana - necaz, bucurie, durere , oboseala, manie, speranta. Dar este un lucru pe care nu l-a experimentat niciodata: nu a intrat niciodata in panica. In acel moment mi-am dat seama ca Dumnezeu nu este niciodata disperat.
* Cand ai ganduri disperate, poti fi sigur ca nu Dumnezeu iti vorbeste.
Atunci trebuie sa astepti cu umilinta increzatoare.
* Asteptarea dupa Dumnezeu necesita speranta de nestins
* Pavel scrie: " Caci in nadejdea aceasta am fost mantuiti. Dar o nadejde care se vede nu mai este nadejde: pentru ca ce se vede, se mai poate nadajdui? Pe cand, daca nadajduim ce nu vedem, asteptam cu rabdare."
* Nadejdea sau speranta in sine este de fapt o forma de asteptare. Ernst Hoffman scrie : " Speranta nou-testamentara este o asteptare rabdatoare, disciplinata si increzatoare dupa Domnul si Mantuitorul nostru...ea isi demonstreaza caracterul prin staruinta cu care asteapta. "
Daca astepti dupa Dumnezeu zilele acetea - daca Il asculti, dar nu vezi inca rezultatele la care speri - trebuie sa sti ca in Biblie, acestei asteptari ii este atasata o fagaduinta minunata:
"Flacaii obosesc si ostenesc,
chiar tinerii se clatina;
dar cei ce se incred in Domnul isi innoiesc puterea,
ei zboara ca vuturii;
alearga si nu obosesc,
umbla si nu ostenesc. "
* Probabil Dumnezeu pretuieste umblarea noastra mai mult decat alergarea sau zborul.
Uneori nu putem face altceva decat sa umblam. Dar in acele momente, umblarea este suficienta. Probabil acest lucru se intampla atunci cand ivata este grea, cand vrem sa abandonam, dar Ii spunem Domnului:
"Nu ma las! Voi face pas dupa pas. Imi voi lua crucea. Il voi urma pe Isus chiar si pe acest drum."
Pasaje din cartea lui John Ortberg: "Daca vrei sa umbli pe apa, trebuie sa cobori din barca." - penultimul capitol.
steven curtis chapman--be still and know
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is holy
Be still, O restless soul of mine
Bow before the Prince of peace
Let the noise and clamor cease
Be still
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that he has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still
Be still and know that he is God
Be still and know he is our Father
Come rest your head upon his breast
Listen to the rhythm of his unfailing heart of love
Beating for His little ones
Calling each of us to come
Be still
What Jesus Did! - Pearls and Pigs
"Don't give holy things to dogs. They will only turn and hurt you. And don't throw your pearls to pigs. They will only step on them.
- Matthew 7:6 (ERV)
THOUGHT:
Wow! Jesus uses really strong language here. At first, he seems to be breaking the very command that he just gave about being non-judgmental. But instead, Jesus is reminding us that being non-judgmental does not mean we are undiscerning, wasteful, and silly.
We are to recognize that there are some people so hardened to receiving the message that they will not listen; we are to quit wasting our time in trying to convince them. He chooses the powerful imagery of a well-known proverb to make his point. He says similar things in a softer way elsewhere.
The bottom line, however, is that there comes a time when we realize that people will not hear the Gospel message. Their repeated determination not to hear and their unwillingness to respond don't mean we are to try harder, but simply to try elsewhere! Being a nonjudgmental person does not mean we refuse to "see the handwriting on the wall" and keep wasting our efforts on those who refuse to hear.
PRAYER:
Father of all mercy, give me wisdom to know when you have opened a door for me to reach out to my friends, family and neighbors, and when to move on to others. I don't want to give up too quickly on those who might respond, but neither do I want to simply try to be more hardheaded than those refusing to hear and further annoy them by continuing to try. Please lead me to those who are ready to hear of your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures:
"When you enter a city or town, find some worthy person there and stay in his home until you leave. When you enter that home say, 'Peace be with you.' If the people in that home welcome you, then they are worthy of your peace. May they have the peace you wished them
But if the people don't welcome you, then they are not worthy of your peace. Take back the peace you wished for them. And if a home or town refuses to welcome you or listen to you, then leave that place. Shake their dust off your feet. I tell you the truth. On the judgment day it will be worse for that town than for the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah. - Matthew 10:11-15
But Paul and Barnabas spoke very boldly. They said, "We must speak the message of God to you Jews first. But you refuse to listen. You are making yourselves lost--not worthy of having eternal life! So we will now go to the people of other nations! - Acts 13:46
"I want you Jews to know that God has sent his salvation to the non-Jewish people. They will listen!" Paul stayed two full years in his own rented house. He welcomed all people that came and visited him. Paul told people about the kingdom of God. He taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. He was very bold (brave), and no one tried to stop him from speaking. - Acts 28:28-31
Creativitate
Sper sa va incante, sa va faca inima sa zambeasca in timp ce se inalta plina de recunostinta, inchinare si multumire inaintea Celui care le merita: Dumnezeu glorios!
Eu le-am savurat cu deosebita placere :)....mai ales ca nu m-am mai uitat de multa vreme la desene animate :)
How Great Is Our God - Hillsong London
From The Inside Out - Hillsong United
The Stand - Hillsong United
Take It All - Hillsong United
Devotion - Hillsong United
Hillsongs - Mighty to save
I'm Yours - Planetshakers
Hillsongs - the time has come
sâmbătă, martie 22, 2008
What Jesus Did! - Looking in the Mirror First
THOUGHT:
PRAYER:
Related Scriptures:
So do you think that you can judge those other people? You are wrong. You too are guilty of sin. You judge those people, but you do the same bad things they do. So when you judge them, you are really judging yourself guilty. God judges the people that do those wrong things.
"I will tell you the kind of special day I want--a day to make people free. I want a day that you take the burdens off people. I want a day when you make the troubled people free. I want a day when you take the burdens from their shoulders. I want you to share your food with the hungry people. I want you to find poor people that don't have homes, and I want you to bring them into your own homes. When you see a man that has no clothes--give him your clothes!
Brothers and sisters, a person in your group might do something wrong. You people who are spiritual should go to the person who is sinning. You should help to make him right again. You should do this in a gentle way. But be careful! You might be tempted to sin, too. Help each other with your troubles. When you do this, you truly obey the law of Christ.
vineri, martie 21, 2008
What Jesus Did! - Judge ... NOT!
- Matthew 7:1-2 (ERV)
THOUGHT:
PRAYER:
Related Scriptures:
You cannot judge another person's servant. His own master decides if he is doing right or wrong. And the Lord's servant will be right, because the Lord is able to make him right. - Romans 14:4
Brothers, and sisters, don't complain against each other. If you don't stop complaining, you will be judged guilty. And the Judge is ready to come! - James 5:9
It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. - 1 Corinthians 5:12
joi, martie 20, 2008
What Jesus Did! - Tomorrow
- Matthew 6:34 (ERV)
THOUGHT:
PRAYER:
Related Scriptures:
I was very worried and upset. But Lord, you comforted me and made me happy! God, you don't help crooked judges. Those bad judges use the law to make life hard for the people. - Psalm 94:19-20
But the person that trusts in the Lord will be blessed. Why? Because the Lord will show him that the Lord can be trusted. That person will be strong like a tree planted near water. That tree has large roots that find the water. That tree is not afraid when the days are hot. Its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year when no rain comes. That tree always produces fruit. - Jeremiah 17:7-8
So, brothers and sisters, be careful that none of you is sinful, and refuses to believe, and stops following the living God. But encourage each other every day. Do this while it is "today. " Help each other so that none of you will become hardened because of sin and the way sin fools people. - Hebrews 3:12-13
miercuri, martie 19, 2008
Indescribable - by Chris Tomlin
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
INCOMPARABLE, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
INCOMPARABLE, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God